Acer m5100 Windows 7 upgrade, can't boot from CD error AND no graphics

I am in way over my head and could use a push in the right direction.

I have an Acer Aspire M5100 Desktop that was running Vista 32 bit. I tried to upgrade to Windows 7, and am now stuck. I do not know what the exact problem is. I think it is EITHER a problem with BIOS or with an incompatible graphics driver.

After the upgrade process (I did not do a clean install), when the computer rebooted for the last time, the screen went black and it it did not advance past a certain point. The error message read, cannot boot from CD.

Since then, when I turn on my computer, the screen goes to black. That's it. If I push delete, I can access BIOS. Even when the boot priority is the CD Rom, nothing happens. I cannot access a GUI to make changes to drivers, etc.

With all of the known incompatibilities this computer has with Windows 7, it probably would be best to return to Vista. Ideally, without a clean install because of all the software and files on the computer. But I understand a clean install might be necessary.

How do I use my Vista recovery CD when there is no GUI accessible? Can I do this through the BIOS menu? I am not good with command prompt coding, so if that is mandatory, I would love some help there!

Unfortunately, I do not know the exact computer specs, again because there is no GUI. The best I can do is this Acer website:
Acer Support: Aspire M5100 Specifications

THANKS IN ADVANCE.

What is the last thing you see on your screen before it goes black?

When I try to boot the screen, there is an instant of White across the screen that has always been there. It has always been my cue to push Delete if I want to access BIOS.

I just discovered that once the screen turns black, I can turn my monitor off, then immediately on again, and there is a message that reads "Loading RAMDISK Image," along with a white bar measuring its progress. When it had finished, it has a message reading "Please wait..." and the screen turns gray. Then the CD/DVD player runs furiously for a minute or so, then nothing. The screen stays gray.

The message I just posted is what happens when i try to boot the DVD I made a long time ago for VISTA Recovery. If I try the same thing with the DVD for Windows 7 (Boot, then turn the monitor off and immediately on again) the message reads:

Verifying DMI Pool Data....... Update Success
Boot from CD:
CDBOOT: Cannot boot from CD - Code : 5